"Demand for coders has collapsed. Up until this year, programming has been considered one of the most secure, predictable, and lucrative career options. But now, we're seeing reports that employment for programmers has collapsed to its lowest level since 1980. On the surface, the connection is obvious. AI agents are able to write code and do so much faster and cheaper than professional programmers. Code is structured text, something AIs are particularly well-suited to understand and reproduce."
"Therefore, it seems a foregone conclusion that with programmers being so expensive for companies to hire, and AI coding tools being so much less expensive, companies are going to replace all their coders with AIs. If you're a coder, goes the newly conventional wisdom, you better make sure your car works, because next year you're going to be humping grocery deliveries for Instacart instead of writing code."
Demand for coders has dropped sharply, reaching levels not seen since 1980. AI coding agents can write structured code faster and cheaper than many professional programmers. Companies face pressure to cut costs and may consider replacing expensive human coders with AI tools. The situation is more nuanced: many coding tasks still require oversight, system knowledge, and integration work. New roles such as testers, AI-wranglers, and integrators will grow alongside traditional coding jobs. Historical examples of household tools like sewing machines and table saws show how technology changes work patterns without eliminating the need for skilled operators.
Read at ZDNET
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